Volkswagen Polo destined for Canada?

Volkswagen has a new look, although most North Americans probably won't be aware of the styling redirection. As it is, the 2010 Scirocco that first surfaced with the brand's updated design language won't be coming to our shores anytime soon, although we'll certainly get the updated Rabbit, which will once again get the Golf moniker for 2010. The new generation VI compact ushers in the new narrow horizontal grille, and is so good looking and reportedly drives so well that it shouldn't have any problem measuring up to generation V sales figures. But as good as the new Golf appears to be, there's something smaller that might just overtake the Golf in popularity if offered in Canada.

Volkswagen launched the fifth-generation Polo in Geneva this week, and while a subcompact by our measurements the little hatchback is anything but short on space. Accommodating for five and their luggage, the Polo offers Volkswagen's upper-crust interior quality with what should be spirited driving dynamics in an extremely stylish little package. The oohs and aahs were audible as the Polo was unveiled before a select crowd of international media and VW staff the night before the first official media day at an exclusive Gala. Pop star Pink belted out tunes with a quality and style most in the crowd were unaware she possessed, one song of which will become the theme song for the new model's initial marketing campaign. That song played again first thing Tuesday morning, accompanied by dancers and fanfare as one of the most important new cars of the Geneva show appeared on stage in a multi-coloured display of low cost, trend-setting style.

Volkswagen has embraced other "alternative" marketing strategies in unleashing the Polo onto a youngish demographic, one of which is a free iPhone/iTouch video game dubbed the Volkswagen Polo Challenge (much more lifelike than the rather poorly executed Audi A4 Challenge game that came out last year. Clearly VW is figuring out that a relatively inexpensive downloadable game free via the App Store at iTunes to Apple's millions of iPhone/iTouch users (45 million are expected to sell in 2009 over and above the current user base which Munster estimates as 85 million by the end of 2009) is a good way to raise awareness.
The car itself is larger in every dimension and therefore more accommodating inside, more powerful yet cleaner and more fuel efficient, plus it's 7.5-percent lighter than the outgoing model while it scores higher in Euro NCAP crash tests, achieving the highest 5-star safety rating. Truly it's a paradox on wheels.
Part of its efficiency comes down to myriad engine choices including four gasoline and three diesel powerplants, many of which feature turbos and direct-injection technology. What's more, VW has added its latest state-of-the-art seven-speed DSG sequential-manual automatic transmission with paddle-shifters on the steering column to the menu, improving sportiness while enhancing fuel economy to a staggering 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers (62 mpg US) when driven in Bluemotion trim. The Bluemotion manages to spew out a mere 96 grams of CO2 per kilometer as well, making it one of the cleanest oil burners on the market; it's the most fuel efficient five-occupant diesel-powered vehicle in the world as well.
Five passengers that are well protected, mind you, with standard ESP electronic stabilization program plus Hill Hold Control, as well as "a highly effective network of airbags on board, including combined head-thorax airbags (integrated in the front seatbacks), belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus seatbelt warning indicator and head restraints that counteract the risk of whiplash injury (both front seats), three rear head restraints and Isofix child seat preparation."
So, how does North America fit into Volkswagen's Polo plans? Despite certainty expressed by some blogs and credible news organizations (followed up by a quote in VW's press release that drive's home the speculator's collective point), no announcement has been made. Currently Volkswagen's US operations have no subcompact model, or rather no model that sells into the subcompact price category. Canada has the compact-sized albeit subcompact priced Golf City and Jetta City models, which are essentially generation IV Golfs and Jettas that have been significantly upgraded with new front and rear fascias, interior trim and feature improvements plus an optional six-speed automatic, etc, a car that also sees duty in Mexico and the rest of the Americas including Brazil. This car, however, will go out of production in 2010, leaving a gaping hole in Canada's VW lineup, at least, which does not offer other models below the City line in price or size. Enter the Polo?

If it could be so easy then it would have already been announced, but other than a hint dropped in its press release Volkswagen is being extremely mum about any such plans. Enthusiasts are holding their breath while crossing their fingers as the new Polo would raise the game in the subcompact crowd, but the issue isn't whether or not the car would sell on North American soil or for that matter if it could meet our safety and emissions standards; yes to both of these questions by the way. The real issue is where it could be built.
Germany is out of the question as such a move would price it out of contention due to high labour costs. Volkswagen has plants in the US and Mexico, either currently running near capacity or planned/expected to soon be, so the Polo is a great idea that's sorely needed, albeit a car without a place to call home.
Volkswagen needs a subcompact model however, so it must solve the problem, yet things being as they are we're not likely to see the Polo or anything like it until the model's mid-cycle upgrade in two years' time. This will leave Canadian operations scrambling to make up for a City line of compact models that currently makes up a significant portion of sales. Not the ideal scenario, but the City Golf and City Jetta were born from such challenges, entering the Canadian market just when the brand's TDI diesels were legislated right off the Canadian map (and they made up more than 50-percent of total sales); they're back now, incidentally, and cleaner than ever. Only time will tell how the popular automaker deals with the problem, but Canadian Polo fans are hoping that the northern division finds a way to beat its southern counterpart to the punch and imports the stylish little subcompact first.
Production of the Euro Polo begins at the end of this month, with a full market launch in the final week of June. Two weeks later the car will be available in dealer showrooms across the entire European mainland, "and soon Polo engines will be revving up across all continents."
There you have it folks, what can only be taken as an admission by Volkswagen via its press release that a North American-bound Polo is forthcoming (North America being one of "all continents" mentioned). So obviously VW is preparing to sort out the production issue.

For more information, see the official VW press release, below.

No other car in this class has such a mature and high-end image as the new Volkswagen Polo. Comfort, quality and safety have all taken a considerable leap forward. One example: the Volkswagen Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The higher structural rigidity of the Volkswagen Polo's bodyshell contributes to these results. In the footwell area alone, intrusion - related to the car body's deformation strength in a frontal crash - was lowered by 50 percent! In the case of a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent.

Standard equipment for safety

In addition, the European version of the Volkswagen Polo now being presented is equipped with standard ESP electronic stabilization program with Hill Hold Control, and it has a highly effective network of airbags on board, including combined head-thorax airbags (integrated in the front seatbacks), belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus seatbelt warning indicator and head restraints that counteract the risk of whiplash injury (both front seats), three rear head restraints and Isofix child seat preparation.

Weight down, fuel consumption down

Despite significant improvements in all aspects of the car, it was possible to reduce the Volkswagen Polo's body weight by 7.5 percent. The introduction of new TDI and TSI engines, as well as the 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG), has resulted in considerably reduced fuel consumption and emissions over a wide range of engine power outputs. An excellent example here is the new 1.2 TSI. This turbo-charged four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine produces 77 kW / 105 PS, yet it consumes just 5.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (129 g/km CO2); this is 19 percent less than on the equivalent model of the previous generation!

In total, seven different engines will be offered on the new Volkswagen Polo in its first year - four gasoline and three diesel - spanning a power range from 44 kW / 60 PS to 77 kW / 105 PS. Five of these engines are entirely new or are being used for the first time in the Volkswagen Polo.

The new engines include all three TDIs (turbo-diesel direct-injection); thanks to the implementation for the first time of common rail technology in the Volkswagen Polo, these engines are both efficient and refined. The potential in the new TDI engines is clearly evident in the example of the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 TDI with 66 kW / 90 PS: when combined with a "BlueMotion package", its average fuel consumption of 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers and 96 g/km CO2 makes it the most fuel efficient and lowest emitting five-seater diesel in the world. The "BlueMotion package" may be combined with any of the three equipment lines developed for the Volkswagen Polo. Available for selection here are the base version "Trendline", the mid-level "Comfortline" and the top of the line "Highline".

Individually combinable high-tech features

Options that Volkswagen Polo drivers will be able to order on their new Volkswagen include static turning lights integrated in the front fog lights, (from "Comfortline" up), side curtain airbags (head airbag system for front and rear passengers), radio and radio-navigation systems and integrated hands-free telephone systems. A panorama sunroof and bi-xenon headlights will follow at a later time.

Market launch starts the end of June 2009

Start of production of the five-door Volkswagen Polo is scheduled for the end of March 2009. This will be followed, starting in the last week in June, by the market launch of the visually and technically advanced new edition of the million unit bestseller in Germany. Just two weeks later, thanks to an ambitious logistics plan, Volkswagen will begin selling the car across mainland Europe, and soon Volkswagen Polo engines will be revving up across all continents.